Dopamine neurons carry phasic signals for a limited number of behavioural events. The events include, in descending order, reward, physically intense stimuli, risk and punishment. Recent neurophysiological studies have provided interesting details on these functions.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3410/B2-2 | DOI Listing |
J Tissue Eng
January 2025
Developmental and Cellular Biology, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
Growing evidence indicates that type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD) through shared disease mechanisms. Studies show that insulin resistance, which is the driving pathophysiological mechanism of T2D plays a major role in neurodegeneration by impairing neuronal functionality, metabolism and survival. To investigate insulin resistance caused pathological changes in the human midbrain, which could predispose a healthy midbrain to PD development, we exposed iPSC-derived human midbrain organoids from healthy individuals to either high insulin concentration, promoting insulin resistance, or to more physiological insulin concentration restoring insulin signalling function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Drug Deliv Rev
January 2025
Neurodegenerative Diseases Department, Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel; Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
Self-renewal capacity and potential to differentiate into almost any cell type of the human body makes pluripotent stem cells a valuable starting material for manufacturing of clinical grade cell therapies. Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by gradual loss of structure or function of neurons, often leading to neuronal death. This results in gradual decline of cognitive, motor, and physiological functions due to the degeneration of the central nervous systems.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomater Adv
January 2025
Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chia-Yi 62102, Taiwan, ROC.
Encapsulated BV6 and SM164, two bivalent second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) mimetics, in etoposide (ETO)-lipopolymer nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed to deplete inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP), impair DNA, and produce antagonistic effects on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in nude mice. The NPs, composed of cocoa butter (CB) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), were stabilized by glycerol monostearate and Pluronic F-127, and grafted with transferrin (Tf) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to dock the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and degenerated dopaminergic neurons. The dual-targeting NPs increased the BBB permeability of BV6, SM164 and ETO via recognizing Tf receptor (TfR) and N-acetylglucosamine that are abundantly expressed on brain microvascular endothelial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElife
January 2025
Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.
The mushroom body (MB) is the center for associative learning in insects. In , intersectional split-GAL4 drivers and electron microscopy (EM) connectomes have laid the foundation for precise interrogation of the MB neural circuits. However, investigation of many cell types upstream and downstream of the MB has been hindered due to lack of specific driver lines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Neurosci
January 2025
Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by protein aggregates mostly consisting of misfolded alpha-synuclein (αSyn). Progressive degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDANs) and nigrostriatal projections results in severe motor symptoms. While the preferential loss of mDANs has not been fully understood yet, the cell type-specific vulnerability has been linked to a unique intracellular milieu, influenced by dopamine metabolism, high demand for mitochondrial activity, and increased level of oxidative stress (OS).
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